LEWISTON — Ledowiska “Mike” Bussiere, 90, of Lewiston has some advice for seniors: serving as a volunteer will keep you “going strong.”

Bussiere didn’t begin her volunteer career until after the death of her husband in 1996, when she became a “runner” at Central Maine Medical Center. She was impressed with the care provided to her late husband during his stay in the CMMC Intensive Care Unit and she felt like she wanted to give back to the medical center.

“She was in good health with plenty of energy to spare at the time, so she thought – why not volunteer?” said CMMC Volunteer Services Director Sue Hedrich. “She enjoys her days at the hospital with all of the other volunteers and with the endless opportunity to help others who need her.

“She says she always goes home feeling like she helped someone else and it helps her maybe even more. Her advice to any senior with extra time on their hands is to consider volunteering,” Hedrich said. “It brings a lot of satisfaction and, as she says, keeps her ‘going strong.’”

Bussiere has given more than 6,200 hours of service to CMMC and in addition to continuing in her role as a runner, she does collating and stuffing projects in the volunteer office.

“She is also known to bake some mean cookies and bars,” Hedrich said. “She is an inspiration to all of us.”